Enough in reservoirs to last till next monsoon: Metrowater officials

TNN | Nov 12, 2009, 05.56 AM IST

CHENNAI:
The level in the Veeranam lake in Cuddalore is up to the brim following the
heavy inflow but Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB)
officials say it does not mean any increase in the supply to the city. They,
however, say the four reservoirs have enough to last till the next
monsoon.On Tuesday, the level in the Veeranam lake was at 43.7 feet
against its capacity of 47.5 feet. The inflow was 1,000 cusecs while the outflow
maintained at 1,474 cusecs. On Wednesday, the inflow was 500 cusecs and the
outflow 493 cusecs.

CMWSSB officials say only 180 Million litres per
Day (MLD) is drawn from the lake for the city's needs. "Veeranam is primarily a
irrigation lake from which we are drawing water for the city under a scheme. Of
the out flow of 493 cusecs from Veeranam on Wednesday, 427 cusecs will go for
agricultural use and 66 cusecs for Chennai," said an official.

Water
from Veeranam reaches a pumping house in Settiya Thoppu near Cuddalore and goes
to a treatment plant in Vadakuthu near Neyvelli. From there it reaches an
overhead tank in Kadambuliyur and then, using gravity, 180 MLD is sent to the
Porur headworks. "This then provides water to entire South Chennai," said the
official.

Officials say the level in the four reservoirs supplying
water to the city increased by 45% on Wednesday compared to Tuesday. On Tuesday,
the combined storage was 4880 mcft against the capacity of 11,057 mcft. On
Wednesday, it was 5039 mcft an increase of 159 mcft.

"The increase is
mainly due to the rains. The average rainfall in Red Hills, Cholavaram, and
Poondi is 325 mm for November. We have been receiving 2.3 thousand million cubic
feet (tmcft) of Krishna water. This is expected to continue untill our
reservoirs become full and we ask them to stop. This will ensure enough supply
till the next monsoon," said the
official.